Following Gameloft's style of gaining "inspiration" from major selling games, the time has finally come where a Zelda style iOS game has arrived on the App Store. Despite whether people are angry at this almost blatant rip off of the beloved franchise or happy over the fact that the app store finally has a Zelda game available to consumers no one can deny the quality of Sacred Odyssey: Rise of Ayden HD matches that of early console titles.

Gameplay

Sacred Odyssey follows a pretty set formula trail blazed by RPGs like Zelda. But to say it is a direct copy is a misconception many will have. The game follows the adventures of Ayden, your average run of the mill hero guy who soon finds himself in an epic adventure where he must find artifacts from various dungeons that will help him defeat the evil of the land, and save the princess.

Sure this is all pretty formulaic in Zelda terms, but it?s the little things that mix things up a bit and give this game its own character. First off, the game is mostly a set of towns separated by a pretty big open world. You have a horse to travel on from place to place, and side quests are available EVERYWHERE. So the game really feels like an RPG mixed with Zelda, rather then just a Zelda copy. There are variety of enemies humanoid or monsters and undead. Throughout the game you will find treasure chest that provide special items or better weapons or armor.

The game is fun to play. You have a long main quest with quite a few dungeons in it and towns, as well as some pretty funny dialogue. Best of all though are the puzzles within the dungeons. They are smart and require some thinking, which actually prove to make the game that much more exciting. I just wish that there were some hints available in these puzzles for those who just cannot get past these parts.

Where this game falls though is in the combat, which although can be very fun, is overall very bland, given that all enemies are more or less the same, and combat comes down to mainly mashing down on the sword button. It gets pretty repetitive after a while, and doesn?t use Zelda?s signature combat where you get a new item from every dungeon. Instead you?re stuck with the same equipment throughout the game, and even if you find something new, it doesn?t affect combat. Another gripe I have is that camera sensitivity is way to low, and that there is no way to change this, which leads to some awkward situations where you find yourself battling with the camera, rather than the enemies on screen.

Graphics

As every Gameloft game, the graphics are top-notch, with high quality character models, textures, and awesome level designs. It?s not Infinity Blade or Dead Space, but it is defiantly one of the better offerings in the RPG crowd for iOS. The graphics certainly enriches the experience that much more.

Sound

Again, as part of Gameloft?s trademark, all main plot dialogue is voiced, and the voices are actually good! They really invoke a sense of emersion that gives the gameplay that 3D feel. Also the music within the game is awesomely epic, presenting a sense of emergency in the events within the game.

Conclusion

Overall, Sacred Odyssey is a good game; it has a lot of the things you?d expect out of a Gameloft game, such as great graphics, fully voiced dialogue, and great gameplay. Combat is a bit repetitive, but the puzzles and side quests within the game help mix things up just enough to keep the game fun. The game is free to download, sort of try before you guy set up, and you can purchase the whole game via in-app-purchase.

Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):

Graphics: - 5 - Really great graphics that present a really unique art style Sound: - 5 - As expected, fully voiced dialogue, and awesome music present throughout the entire gameControls: - 4 - The controls are good, but having the options to adjust camera sensitivity would have been REALLY helpful for those hectic fights Gameplay: - 4 - The combat is pretty fun, though can get repetitive. Thankfully the puzzles and side quests keep things fresh.

Playing Hints and Tips:

Be sure to dodge a lot to make sure no damage is taken. Don?t be afraid to use your potions when needed.